Hulahula River Rafting Adventure

The popular river rafting trips, the Hulahula begins in glaciers of the Romanzof Mountains, flows west and then 100 miles north, through a valley between Mt. Chamberlin and Mt. Michelson, to Camden Bay. Homesick Hawaiian natives, shanghied to work on whaling ships at the turn of the century, named this river for the way it snakes across the coastal plain in the Arctic Refuge

A close look at this magnificent landscape reveals a lush, alpine landscape blanketed with wildflowers, intricate valleys, ancient rock formations and cascading waterfalls. We hope to catch sight of small bands of the Porcupine caribou herd on their summer migration to areas north of the Brooks Range. We may also see Dall sheep, musk oxen, snowy owls, swans, numerous migratory birds, and, occasionally, wolves, fox, moose, grizzlies, and wolverine. Our trip will end on the arctic coastal plain, with a possible hike to the edge of the Beaufort Sea where the offshore ice pack may be in view.

Experience:
No prior paddle rafting experience is necessary, however the Hulahula is a large-volume river with Class III/IV whitewater expected in some sections. Participants must be in good physical condition due to the length and expedition nature of the trip, the river conditions, and the possibility of portage. Begins and ends in Fairbanks.

Hulahula River Rafting Tours - Itinerary:

Fairbanks to Hulahula River
In the morning we drive to the airport and begin our long flight across the Yukon River Flats to the Native community of Arctic Village. We then switch to smaller planes and continue north over the Brooks Range and on to the upper Hulahula River. We'll land on a small gravel bar along the river, near its headwaters, and set up our first camp.

Hulahula River to Beaufort Sea
Our schedule on the Hulahula will be leisurely and flexible as we'll have 24 hours of daylight each day! We will have ample opportunity for short walks, day hikes, photographing wildlife and fantastic displays of wildflowers, and fishing for Arctic char and grayling (for those who bring fishing gear). The Hulahula has the most technically challenging whitewater of the Refuge's North Slope rivers. The upper river is swift and challenging, with rocky rapids and walls of aufeis (shelves of river ice) to negotiate through. Braided channels add to the excitement. We enter a canyon with rock walls towering above us, as we negotiate Class II and III rapids and twisting turns. The river winds out of the foothills and across the arctic coastal plain, but the current never slackens on our way to the ocean. This area is one of our most fascinating and ecologically diverse national treasures.

We are traveling in mountain tundra country entirely north of the treeline. The closest spruce forests are 40 miles to the south, over the Arctic Divide. Willow and birch, the only shrubs, reach about 8 feet in height this far north. A vast green carpet of tundra stretches across the land, and eye-popping wildflowers open to catch the sun. The river begins swiftly and is shallow and braided with a few lively riffles. The most strenuous part of the trip may be maneuvering rafts through the shallows, as we hop in and out of rafts, pushing them off gravel bars.

We hike and paddle through the mountains, foothills, and out onto the coastal plain. Views in every direction are unlimited, and, with luck, we'll see bands of caribou roaming across the tundra. Trip's end is either 6 miles inland from the Beaufort Sea, or, if river conditions allow, we'll paddle out to the mouth of the river, across its spreading delta, to an offshore barrier island, where shorebird species we may not have seen inland, await us. 

The weather is highly variable. Prepare yourself for temperatures ranging from the brisk 30s to the scorching 80s by bringing a variety of clothing layers. At this far-north latitude, a light dusting of snow is even possible.

Return to Fairbanks
After a final day of rafting and/or hiking, we'll break camp and await the arrival of the bush planes for our flight to Fairbanks.